GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
EXTREMELY RARE HIGH QUALITY CZECH PROTOTYPE ZK420-S RIFLE.BRNOZK420-S00428MMMODERN; C&RCal. 8mm. 23" bbl. Extremely rare Czech ZK420-S as designed and manufactured by brothers Josef and Frantisek Koucky. Once can see that these designers must have examined the American M1 Garand rifle and perhaps also the US M1 carbine as this gun combines several familiar features. Developed in the 1940's, the bolt head on this semi-automatic rifle rotates when the charging handle/operating rod and bolt housing move to the rear. The bolt head and extractor is very reminiscent of the US 30 M1 carbine. The safety is a lever which pivots at the forward edge of the trigger guard, much like the M1 Garand and the rifle incorporates a 10-shot detachable box magazine, which in this case matches in SN to this specimen. The gas cylinder has a removable plug which is similar to the later US M-14 design. This rifle is marked with the familiar "Z" within a bulls-eye target logo and left hand side of receiver "ZK40-S" together with "ZBROJOVKA BRNO / NARODNI PODNIC". Right side of receiver marked "MADE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA CAL. 7.92MM". This rifle includes what appears to be an orig Mauser 98K leather sling. PROVENANCE: From the Estate of World Renowned British Rifle Collector Robert W. Faris. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish extremely fine to near excellent. Gray patina receiver with remnants of oil in recessed areas giving it a straw appearance with a commensurate light grey finish on magazine and trigger guard. Bore is near excellent, shiny and bright. Wood is also extremely fine to near excellent with some light handling marks and dings, mostly just on either side of the receiver section. This is an exceedingly attractive and important piece of semi-automatic rifle development history which exhibits the very highest quality of workmanship, fit and finish. 51608-19 JWK (4,000-8,000)